pain 5 months after radiation

cherb

I had 33 treatments and a boost of radiation after dx with DCIS. My last treatment was at the end of October. Now, 5 months later...I am still extremely sore and sensitive to the touch all over my breast. Doctor said everything is normal at my last apppointment in December. I am scheduled for my 6 month follow ups next month. Does anyone have the same problem?

Dalia37

Hi, I finished rads on December 2nd. And I still have sensitive skin, it hurts a little and is bothering me all the time, it is like a dull pain, constant, always there. Last month I had a follow up and doctor told me that it was normal to be sore and that the pain would be chronic but he didn't seem concerned about it. I thought the pain was due to the mastectomy but he thought it was all together and that it wouldnt go away, so now I don't worry about it.

Vicks1960

I finished Contura Balloon brachytherapy radiation Nov. 18, 2011.  I still have sensitivity, and sometimes some sharp pains.  The sharp pains, I believe are the nerves repairing themselves.  I too have follow up diagnostic mammo, see M/O  and R/O in mid April. Have been on Letrozole (Femara) since Nov. 21.

Vickie

marjie

Yep....I have sensitive areas,achy ribs and still get occasional twinges or sharp pains.  My shoulder is all out of whack too because my muscles in the rads area are so tight and hard.  I finished rads almost one year ago.  I understand that it can take up to 18 months for a lot of these SEs to clear up.

Lorbois

I had 21 radiation sessions, finished December 21, 2011. I still havepain in my breast and shoulder area whenever I stretch (as in yoga). I cannot yet stretch my shoulder on that side fully. My breast feels hard and sometimes I think my flesh has been cooked, hence thickness! I still do not have sensation on top of the scar and under my arm (where 4 lymphnodes were removed). Sometimes I have pinching pains in the area of my scar and nipple(scar touching nipple). I hope your pain and mine eventually leaves yet I am soooooo thankful to be here, I do not mind the pain.

fhar451

I had a lumpectomy on my right breast in july, 2011. I finished rad 10/31/11. On 12/18/11 I woke up in extreme pain under my right arm and on my right side. I thought I might have an infection because I had one after my surgery. I called the oncologist and they said just take over the counter pain medication and use warm compresses. I tried this but it did not help. The medical oncologist, the radiation oncologist, and the breast surgeon all did not seem too concerned about this pain. I even had an ultrasound which did not show anything. Some days it was worse than others. I thought maybe it was fluid retention. Anyway, about 03/10/12 I noticed that the pain was not as bad. I guess it just takes time to heal. Now I am pretty much pain free.    

christina1961

I finished radiation in October following a unilateral MX.  I have some shooting pains in the breast area and under my arm (had 16 nodes removed) when I carry heavy things.  When I touch the breast area, it is certainly sensitive and the ribs are still sensitive.  For a few days I took lots of ibuprofen and the pain minimized quite a bit - in my case I think it is the cartilage and serratous muscles treated in the radiation field causing most of my pain. I go to physical therapy and have exercises to help keep the scar tissue from modeling into a configuration that could limit my shoulder mobility. 

sandy115

I am 8 weeks post Rads and having alot of pain in breast under arm and bone pain in clavical area Ive also noticed a hard lump under my arm arm.My breast is also very sensitive I am always aware of it even when I am sleeping.Does anyone have these pains.I had lumpactomey last June.

marjoriesands

Yes, I have the same problem.  Finished my radiation April 2011 and still having pain in the post surgical breast...a lot of soreness and also burning under my arm that appears like "hot flashes".

Finally, my oncologist said the burning is probably from a nerve being severed during surgery, but didn't have any answer for the breast pain.  Now I'm having a new side affect...a year after radiation my hair is starting to fall out!  Not gobs like with chemo but definitely a good amount.  I think they are giving us way too much radiation, and I was talking to "deaf ears" when I was going through it and my skin was ruptured.  I think I'm sorry I ever had radiation because who knows what the after effects will be 10 years from now. 

Alcie1

I'm 3 years post-radiation.  No chemo.  I had axillary cording from getting my lymphatic system on that side cooked by the rads.  Last year I got it massaged (read crushed) out by a qualified therapist, which hurt a lot but did the job.  I had a huge improvement in range of motion after the first session.

Now, a year after physical therapy, I'm having worsening pain in the axilla, breast at the incisions, along the side where the lymphatic system runs and in the ribs under the lymphatics.  I live on pain killers and this is getting past them. 

I wish I'd refused the radiation!  I've read that it doesn't do much for seniors who had only a minimal IDC. 

Mimikub56

Its been 7 months since my last treatment. My grandson hugs me, and my breast wants to scream at him. Ugh, still painful and sore. I heard it can always be sore. I sure hope not. 

Mimikub56

It's been 7 months since I finished 23 days of the whole breast and 7 day booster. My grandson hugs me, and he's just the height to hit my breast with his head. Ugh so painful. I've heard the pain could last forever. I sure hope not. I go back to the surgeon on the 10th, I sure have questions for her.